Overall sentiment for PA Peterson at the Citadel is deeply polarized: reviews range from highly positive accounts praising compassionate staff, strong therapy services, and successful discharges to severe negative reports describing neglect, unsanitary conditions, and safety incidents. Many reviewers explicitly say the care team—nurses, therapists, social workers, and certain CNAs—provided excellent, family-centered support, got residents rehabilitated, and helped them return home. At the same time, a large number of reviews recount troubling systemic issues: understaffing, inconsistent caregiver performance, slow responses to call lights, and management unresponsiveness.
Care quality and staffing form the central theme. Positive stories emphasize dedicated nurses and therapists (names like Sherri, Asia, and April were singled out), effective PT/OT leading to improved mobility and discharge home, and social services that navigated insurance and placement well. Multiple reviewers credit the facility with top-notch rehab and attentive wound or dialysis care. However, an equally large and troubling set of accounts describe CNAs and nurses who are inattentive, on their phones, fail to introduce themselves or read charts, and sometimes leave residents waiting for long periods—examples include residents left on toilets for 45 minutes to multiple hours, missed insulin or delayed blood sugar care, and missed or late meals. Night and weekend shifts are repeatedly called out as worse than daytime coverage.
Facility condition and cleanliness are another major divide. Several reviewers describe clean, well-kept private rooms, renovated lobby areas, and pleasant grounds—many appreciate the scenic location by a golf course and accessible outdoor walking areas. But many other reviewers report serious maintenance and sanitation failures: peeling wallpaper, broken plastic molding, nailed-in cable, long-term out-of-service elevators (one report of a second elevator down for 4+ months), no hot water or failing A/C on floors, soiled carpets, fecal matter smeared on walls, soiled washcloths left on floors, filthy sinks storing medical equipment, and evidence of pests (roaches and mice). These accounts include alarming descriptions of odors (urine), mold, garbage in hallways, and overall “run down” or depressing interior spaces outside the renovated areas.
Dining and nutrition are also inconsistent. Several reviewers find meals home-like and tasty, mention snacks like freshly made popcorn, and appreciate dietary accommodations. Conversely, many reviews complain of bland, salty, canned, or “dog food”-like meals, lack of diabetes-friendly options or missing insulin administration, cold food, and missing basic condiments (milk, sugar, salt/pepper). Some family members reported having to bring food daily to ensure their loved ones ate. Restricted diets and generic sugar-free drinks were also criticized.
Safety, infection control, and medication management raise significant concerns for a portion of reviewers. There are multiple allegations of infection outbreaks (including COVID and C. difficile), reports of wound infections and sepsis, and claims of near-fatal incidents and neglect during medical emergencies. Several reviews detail falls and unsafe transfers (including one account of a broken leg following an unsafe transfer), medication left unattended, delayed or missed insulin and blood sugar checks, and accusations of elder abuse or gross negligence. While some residents received excellent clinical attention, the number and severity of safety complaints mean these issues should not be dismissed.
Management, communication, and administrative issues further complicate impressions. Reviewers report inconsistent responsiveness from management and social services—phones often go unanswered, family communications are poor or delayed, and concerns are shifted or minimized by staff. There are split reports regarding the impact of new ownership or management changes: some reviewers feel improvements and renovations are underway, while others believe the facility declined after takeover, with staff morale and oversight suffering. Billing and insurance issues were raised by a few reviewers, including allegations of improper Medicare/Medicaid charging and pressure to discharge residents prematurely for insurance reasons.
Activities, amenities, and value are mixed. Many residents enjoy a variety of activities, church services, outings, and social programming; others say activities were absent or minimal. Amenities such as a salon, secure entry, shuttle service, and therapy departments receive praise. Cost perceptions vary: one reviewer cited a high monthly cost (~$7,000) and some consider it expensive but worth it when care is good, while others view the price as unjustified given maintenance and quality concerns.
In summary, the reviews portray PA Peterson at the Citadel as a facility with clear strengths—notably a strong rehab program, many caring clinical staff members, effective social work/discharge planning in numerous cases, and a pleasant location—but also with repeated, serious red flags around staffing consistency, sanitation, maintenance, safety, and management responsiveness. Experiences appear highly dependent on the unit, shift (nights/weekends worse), and specific staff on duty. Families considering this facility should weigh the polarized feedback carefully: verify current staffing levels and night/weekend coverage, tour multiple unit areas (not just the lobby and show rooms), ask directly about infection control history and recent inspections, confirm meal plans for dietary needs, request recent maintenance and elevator repair status, inquire about laundry and belongings policies, and get specifics about billing and discharge practices. Active family involvement and close monitoring appear to make a substantial difference in whether a resident's stay is positive or problematic according to these reviews.
